Disclaimer(s): Lessie...YGO isn't mine, and the song I wrote this to (dear god, did I really?) doesn't belong to me either. Sail Away by The Rasmus (a MUST LISTEN TO)...and YGO by that guy's name who I can't spell.
Pairing: This is CONQUESTshipping which is ((ValonxMai)).
Warning(s): Author was operating under the delusion that the Shadow Realm is something like a reversible Purgatory. If one person opts to die all the way, then the other person can go free~
I just sort of stood there. I expected something worse than this. Something…painful, I suppose. Having your soul ripped out – isn't that supposed to hurt? Just a little? But as the edges of the Oricalcos Seal closed in around me, all I felt was a sort of remorse. Because I remembered.
XXX
The hall was slightly cold. Mai was standing there, right off to my left. She looked proud…fierce. I saw that look in her eyes first. The others…they told me it'd be madness, bringing a woman in. I knew better though. She was perfect – from that crown of golden hair to her attitude. She knew what it was to be tough…knew better than some of the others, even.
Dartz was standing on the dais, gazing down at us. We all needed a 'sponsor' to get into the gang. I volunteered to be Mai's. How could I not? She was everything that Dartz said we were looking for – strong, elegant, brave. And yet she wasn't perfect, either. She had her faults. We all did.
I don't think I could have dealt with perfection. Not after living in a church for the beginning of my life. Religion does strange things to people. So do gangs. Except this one…this one, the only strange things that happen, happen during duels. And that only helps us win.
When she dueled in the initiation rite, I watched. She made me proud. She was beautiful out there, in the arena. Her eyes were bright as she dispatched of her opponent with those harpies of hers. She had their same fierce demeanor. Between the two of us – among all of us – I knew the rest of the world would be jealous.
We had Dartz' plans, and our own dreams. We had something to fight for. Something worth fighting for.
*~*~*~*~*
"S'all righ', Mai."
She was leaning on the railing, looking out from the balcony. The city was dark, except for those few flickering lights that never seem to know when to go out.
"But what if something goes wrong?"
Always worried, always worrying. But I couldn't fault her for that. None of us knew much about her background, but from what she'd told me – more than she ever let on to the others – she always had been a bit of a perfectionist. And I guess that included keeping everyone alive in episodes like this one.
The night air was chilly. I put my arm around her – she didn't push me away like she used to.
"It'll be all righ'."
She didn't look like she quite believed me.
"But…what if –"
"Mai – look a' me."
Her face turned, troubled.
"It will be all righ'. Look, we're a family, righ'? We ain't gonna die. We've got everythin' that we need – and Mai? Since we are a family…remember – we all love ya."
She didn't answer, but I think she knew. It wasn't just our 'family' or even mostly. It was me. But the troubled look on her face eased a bit. It must have been the right thing to say.
XXX
I can see her, standing there on the other side of the curtains that separate this world from the next. Did I ever tell you that I love you? Wait for me, Mai, would you?
There's one place left to go –
Because you can go home from this world if one of us goes on. The night is calling my name, Mai… You stay. I'll sail away.
I know he's coming. The veil between this world and the one before is thin enough for me to look through. It's like going through my closet, almost…seeing things in different shades than before. He's glowing. He looks…peaceful. Then his eyes seem to fix on me, like he can see me, the way he used to. And I…I remember.
XXX
The hall was slightly cold. There were candles everywhere. Dartz had called this a rite of passage. He called it a celebration. All I knew was that I was damn scared. I'd seen what the seal could do to people. I didn't want that to happen to me, and I almost didn't want to do it to anyone else. But that was fear, and fear was unacceptable if I wanted to prove myself.
When I had my opponent across from me in the makeshift dueling arena, I set aside any and all fear; this was the time for me. I went for it. The duel passed in a blur of frozen colors and screaming. The seal – when I played it, everything changed. The world was painted in shades of envy and power.
But when the duel concluded, there were so many people around me, welcoming me. Saying I was home. I'd never been home before. And…he told me that every day was a gift. But that…was once upon a time.
*~*~*~*~*
"S'all righ', Mai."
He was standing slightly off and to the right, his arms crossed, and a smile on his face. He always wore that same smile. The night air ruffled his unruly hair.
"But what if something goes wrong?"
Hadn't I said there would be no more fear in my life? I couldn't help it though. I needed to know. I'd spent too much of my life looking for something…and I'd never known what it was. Now, though – what if this was it? I didn't want to lose what might be the chance of a lifetime. I didn't want to die.
The night air was chilly. His arm draped over my shoulders. I was too weary to push him away.
"It'll be all righ'."
And if it isn't?
"But…what if –"
"Mai – look a' me."
I had to look at him, because he seemed so assured. I wished I was that self-confident, that I had that level of belief in how things would turn out.
"It will be all righ'. Look, we're a family, righ'? We ain't gonna die. We've got everythin' that we need – and Mai? Since we are a family…remember – we all love ya."
'Family.' He always said family. But tonight, I think he meant more – or less. I think he was talking about himself. It's nice to feel loved.
XXX
Sail away it's time to leave rainy days are yours to keep fade away twilight's calling my name you will stay I'll sail away
I catch his arm and stop him. Shake my head. No… I can't let you do this. I recall how well you liked running in the rain, and how messy that mop of hair would get. Besides…the twilight's calling my name. You will stay. You have something left to live for. I'll sail away.
No reason to lie
No need to pretend
I'm grateful to die
To live once again
I'm fearless to fly
And reach for the end
And reach for the end
Reach for the end
. . .
Sail away
Sail away
It's time to leave
Rainy days are yours to keep
Fade away
The night is calling my name
You will stay
I'll sail away
Sail away
The night is calling my name
Sail away